r/PickAnAndroidForMe • u/DanzilFMT • Aug 20 '26

EU Xiaomi vs Google vs Samsung

Do you have any opinion about these options? Perhaps you own one of these.

Xiaomi Poco X8 Pro Mac 512GB/12GB (€479)
Google Pixel 10a 128GB/8GB (€499)
Samsung Galaxy A57 512GB/12GB (€485)

I did some research already, and on paper it seems like you get good value from the Xiaomi. But then you have a Chinese HyperOS with 4 major updates, as opposed to 6 and 7 from the others.

About the Google Pixel 10a, it seems like they are economising on the chipset/storage/memory, but then you get 7 major updates and a non-Chinese managed OS.

With the Samsung, you also get a bloated OS, like Xiaomi, but you get good specs... other than the chipset which seems to be the inferior one among the 3.

I was also considering the Nothing 4a, but for €449, and you only get 3 major updates. And I'm not someone who changes the phone often. I've had a OnePlus 5 for the last 10 years.

I'm in the EU by the way.

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u/FarVehicle533 Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26

Updates aren't everything. You could have even 10 years of updates. If the phone can't last those 10 years, it is pointless.

Samsung

  • doesn't provide identical updates across all devices, even when talking about flagships. And they have been caught implementing means of downgrading your device experience through updates. And their A series is very much lacking.
- they promise 6 years. You will want to replace it by the 4th year
  • lowest brightness from all of them. there are 2018 budget phones with bigger brightness level.
  • ufs 3.1

Pixels

  • have issues with battery life and handling heat.
  • They constantly overheat.
  • decent screen
  • ufs 3.1

Xiaomi

  • lowers pricetag by using ads.
  • can disable every single ad in a matter of seconds.
  • amazing screen
  • ufs 4.1 (this affects overall performance of the device. The Poco is the most performant in this aspect)
  • has Dolby Atmos, the other don't have this. Sound quality is better on Poco.
  • has 8500 mAh, with 100w charging rate. This can last for years, even more than it's updates.

Regarding bloat. I have a 512 GB redmi phone. About 14 GB taken by system and another 4 GB taken by bloat. Got 494 GB of free storage for myself.

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 20 '26

Appreciate the thorough feedback. Makes sense, and the Poco's specs can't be easily ignored. I found some guides for HyperOS, and all seem to be easilt doable.

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u/Lighning05 Aug 21 '26

Can confirm, get the x8 pro max, it completely shits on your other choices, I had an X7 pro but decided to upgrade to x8 pro max, still hasn't received it but concerning bloatware I easily removed them using shizuku + canta on my X7 pro (YouTube tuto helps a lot) for ads it's a simple matter of disabling msa and a few other settings in xiaomi stock apps, that's pretty much all.

Ps: check aliexpress they often have sales for phones (they have one right now) I got my poco x8 pro max for 288€ over there, use coupon codes

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u/Boring_Antelope6533 Aug 21 '26

I chose the Pixel Pro 10 Xl over the 11 as it came with the base config with 16GB This device can last the 7 years of update they promise, I assume the 10a can as well

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u/Tapelessbus2122 Aug 22 '26

what are your priorities? it's really just between the 10a and a57, i had the x8pm and it was nothing but problems

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 22 '26

As long as it's within the same price range, I consider other options.

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u/Tapelessbus2122 Aug 22 '26

not sure if it's within budget for you but in some regions the s25fe and s24 are roughly the same price as the a57, check those out

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 22 '26

Hmm, can't find the S24 in stock anywhere. I can find the S25 FE, but it has less storage, an inferior chip, and 15% more expensive compared to the Poco. 

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u/Tapelessbus2122 Aug 22 '26

u should just forget abt the x8pm altogether, the phone has plenty of software issues, overheats a lot, has battery drain issues, has much worse software support, and the cameras on it is horrible. and just a reminder, pocos are known for frying their motherboards. if u don't want to get the s25fe, that's fine, just get the a57 (or 10a if u're into photography)

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 22 '26

Thanks for the feedback. I also read about some heating issues recently. Maybe I'll wait until Black Friday offers and see if I can get something better for rhe same price. Considering my 10 year old OnePlus is still going fine.

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u/Tapelessbus2122 Aug 22 '26

that's a good idea, honestly old oneplus phones are really well built (sadly not anymore), u'd notice quite the downgrade going to the x8pm

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 22 '26

I'm surprised the battery is still good. Unsure if those models had good batteries, or if I just got lucky. It gets slow with a work profile enabled though. Apps like Notion are also lagging sometimes, and I've installed LineageOS on it, at least I got it up to Android 15. Don't think they will be able to port Android 16 on it though, and some banking apps won't work. Other than that I'm not a heavy phone user, so it performs well most of the time.

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u/Tapelessbus2122 Aug 22 '26

you probably just got lucky since usually batteries only last 3-4 years (less if it's silicon carbon because silicon expands roughly 300-400% more). lineageos is great, i have it on some of my older androids too. some banking apps don't work because your bootloader is unlocked and that tends to trip the apps' security system (which is reasonable)

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 22 '26

The Oppo Reno15 is actually in the same price range, and am leaning towards it to be honest. Looks decent.

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u/Nikla3310 Aug 22 '26

The Xiaomi will last you longer hardware wise than the rest but Google software is better managed. Pick your poison.

The pixel will have better cameras as well.

Although, I have no problems with my xiaomi 13t pro's software, others complain. The new models seem to be more efficient than in the past (like my model).

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 22 '26

I'm not a camera heavy user. Barely have any photos in fact. Usually use my wife's iPhone if needed. I prefer long term support.

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u/Nikla3310 Aug 22 '26

Long term support for software then is in the favour of the pixel. But the question is if the hardware is up for it. I would ask the question in a pixel 8/9 subreddit and see what others are doing. They are the first gen of the 7 years support and look at their hardware. The pixel 10a is on a similar level of hardware (though with the pixel 9s SOC). If their hardware is still good, then I would go for it.

The Xiaomi will last in terms of performance because the specs are stronger. You will get 3 years less OS updates on the Xiaomi.

See which matters most for you. If you change the phone in a few years, then the Poco might be worth it

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u/DanzilFMT Aug 22 '26

Fair points. OnePlus I'm using is 10 years old, so I don't change frequently :)

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u/Forsaken_Day_6869 Aug 20 '26

Pocomai best :D